Strong south wind, got real dusty and was chilly, below 60 at noon. Will chored, fed bulls, looked at cattle, took Van Epps, who walked down to skin that dead cow but it made him sick, so he went home. Will got ready, took eggs to store and mailed letters which I finished writing this forenoon to mail and on to Valentine to get car tuned up at or before 11 a.m. and he got back at 8:30 p.m. just at dark, so chored then we ate hamburger gravy, bread, ice-cream and cold and hot water. This is May Day and for so many days it has been strong winds from south, southeast and northwest and dusty and gets real chilly at times [so] that we have to have a fire in heater. This is Kate Smith’s Birthday, radio entertainer. I sewed on Will’s nighties and ate lunches, no Will home until evening. He said that he saw Nellie and Janie Hollenbach at Valentine and took them home from downtown to Effie Gasons.
1943 May 2nd Sunday
Was quite a nice day after chilly night and sun shone all day. I got meals, laid down in p.m. Went with Will both morning and eve to look at cattle, counted the Big Stuff in morning and all are here.
After Will chored in eve and we looked over cattle, we stopped at Van Epps. W.D. was getting ready to chore and showed us the little chicks, they have wing feathers, also tails and are doing fine. Joe (Josephine) Gehlsen, Rita, Bobby, Mary Armbruster, Bill, Elsie, Billie and Margie went to Elmer Chauncey Place to paper the kitchen, and Bill came home to chore and the others later in Carl Gehlsen’s car as he is operating the White Eagle Filling Station east end [of] Mission, where Turgeons were. They will move to Burke, S.D. and Gehlsen Family will live in house near station. Will and I went to Wm Pierce Place. Mr., Mrs., Leah and Bobby Pierce were there. They had been cleaning the house. Will brought home a pork roast, we had it for dinner and ate sandwiches for supper out of it and Grape-nut Flakes after we came from Pierce’s. We stopped at Wm Abbotts and Mr., Mrs., Cora Ann, Billie came out to car. Delores was washing dishes. Mrs. Anderson (Mrs. Abbott’s mother) is at Abbotts for Brownie Anderson and Mrs. and 2 small daughters brought her out. She came to winner by bus from California, Missouri and Omaha, where she has been with children.
1943 May 3rd Monday
Sun shone, was quite nice out of wind which came from the west. I got meals, sacked up cobs with Will’s help and he then helped Van Epps turn yearling steers out of pen. Van Epps creosoted posts to be used at his yard fence, and Will built a hot bed for tomato plants south of shanty, also cabbage plants. Van Epps went to get a trailer wagon load of hay for our bulls and dragged the cow that died west of his place near road to a ravine north side of Wagner and State Land Pasture. He then went to Joe Hoon Place where Claude Van Epps lives, no one home so he loosened the Porch and room that is his from other buildings to bring home to Wagner Place. Elsie, Billie, Mary Armbruster went with Elmer Chauncey to his Place to finish papering pantry and laying rug in kitchen. W.D. had dinner here. I sewed on Will’s nighties and finished all but buttons and cut out mine.
1943 May 4th Tuesday
Was very cloudy, no moisture so sun shone later. I got only breakfast for Will went to Winner to get car repaired, the fenders, brakes adjusted and came home at 10 p.m., brought ice-cream so I got up to eat at 10:20 p.m. and ate, for only lunched to-day. No chored in eve, but I got water and some wood in. Sewed on Will’s nighties and not much done. Standard Oil Winner left 105 gals. gas. Mrs. Merritt here looking for Will and W.D., went to Joe Hoon Place to see W.D. and Van Epps.
1943 May 5th Wednesday
Wind blew from the south but sun shone and Will chored, went to Van Epps for W.D., Elsie and Billie were at Claude Van Epps to-day, put their house and porch on Chauncey’s hay sweep, and Bill used Chauncey’s tractor to pull them home and never saw them until evening when I went out to get wood at wood-pile, so to-day Will and I went to Whiting Store, got some groceries and no one home at Van Epps, for saw Bill take Chauncey’s tractor home. He used it to pull house to their place, but when we got back they were home, for Elsie and Billie took car down for Bill to come back, and Elsie is in bed with the measles and very sick. Will brought me home and went back to help W.D. take porch off the hay-sweep and he came home for dinner and back again to work. I laid down and sewed on everyday dresses for myself, also got meals and read some.
1943 May 6th Thursday
Northwest wind, dusty and not nice but sun shone. Will chored and went to Van Epps and they moved kitchen off of the hay-sweep and Elsie is real sick so he came home for dinner. I got meals, laid down in p.m., sewed on everyday dresses for myself. Marjorie stayed home from school yesterday and so doubt will [stay home] all this week to care for Billie as Elsie has to stay in bed and W.D. and Whitcher are working at the house.
1943 May 7th Friday
Sun shone but was windy and dusty. Will took crate [of] 12 doz. eggs to Whiting Store and got some salt for the cattle and the mail late p.m. and he and Van Epps got their kitchen up to the rest of house and porch in place, ready for cement floor. Elsie is still not so well but thinks she will get better. Margie takes care of Billie. I sewed on everyday dresses and laid down in p.m., just for a minute, got meals as Will comes home at noon for dinner.
Bright until clouds, cold N.W. wind and in p.m. some snow flurries just at times. Men gave cattle 1 stack alfalfa, 1 stack wild hay and cared for calves to see that they were fed. Never worked at Fence nor plowed for alfalfa on Wagner Land where Will did yesterday. He nearly froze then. Thomas, Athel and Jimmie to Wales. Doris and David here for awhile and I played Canasta with them until Will was all in so went to bed so they went to Wales for eve. This was field day at Mission so Athel took the school children to Spelling & Arithmetic tests and Pat Heiden went to Frank Van Epps for night and there will be school tomorrow, so then she goes home to Maggritts. Edward. Lilly Mae and Cheryl live [there] and do the work as Mr. had a leg taken off. I have the black with flower print percale dresses finished but buttons and holes on 1 and bolts to put sleeves to waist and waist to skirts. These are heavier so may put away for winter next, if it don’t get warmer this spring. I may have to wear them now. Will and Dan went to mail letter of lease to register to Rosebud for William Abbott from Noble Moore, Sr., a land lease. They got rest of posts bought from Bud (Harold Whiting).
1953 April 19th Sunday
Broken, dark clouds in N.W., sun shone here but chilly strong N.W. wind here. Wales went to Mission or Winner Drive-In last eve and Will had to call Dan to get up to help cold calves [to] get warm. All O.K. and mothers fed them later. I baked an apple-spice cake, washed all the dishes. Had only Sausage Beef Burgers. Wrote in diary to date. Guess Wales are home this eve. We played Canasta in p.m. and eve. I got eats and [played] some solitaire. Will had to look about cows and calves now and then all day but they are O.K. Men took Jersey Milk Cow (Abbotts’) away from calf or left calf with other ones in bull pen so a lot of milk now.
1953 April 20th Monday
Sun shine and a nice day so men fed cattle hay and looked about calves. Dan worked at fence around new tree ground west of those trees west of our house, and Will, after getting Dan lined out for a straight, plowed at the ground. Bus McKee came this late p.m. with their drill and disc, took his tractor home but first he and Dan pulled a dead calf as Dan got cow in on Alabam. Will in pick up to Mission about 4:30 p.m. and had supper there, got 2300 Chinese Elms from Tom H. Pazarnsky, Soil Conservation, Mission, and got home a little while before dark. I got eats, played solitaire and finished 2 everyday dresses; next will make another quilt. Betty was up with milk but no Calvin, but Will said he was out in yard playing while she [was] here.
1953 April 21st Tuesday
Bright, nice day but south and strong [wind]. Will and Dan gave cattle hay, then Wales went in their pick-up to Valentine and home in eve. Will plowed and finished for trees and disced it once. I got eats and sewed another quilt top, played some solitaire.
1953 April 22nd Wednesday
Bright day. Men gave cattle hay and looked about calves. Will disced the tree ground second time and harrowed it and in p.m. they gave cattle 3 old stacks hay, just hauled stacks out. Dan fixed fence this a.m. Got disc & harrow ready to finish alfalfa. I got eats, sewed on quilt tops and some solitaire. Betty was up with milk.
1953 April 23rd Thursday
Sun shone and not a bad day, in fact very nice in morning. Will went to disc on Strids, some old alfalfa ground that was most[ly] weeds and the wind came up from S.E. about 10 a.m. very strong rest of day. Nearly moved a person when walking. Dan finished fence around trees (new ones). Will had to come [home] early eve. Evelyn, Bobbie, Patsy and Danny, born Feb. 6th, at Wales and here. I washed clothes and put all on line but dish & hand, Will did this. He brought them in as [they] dried quickly.
1953 April 24th Friday
Rained last night and some this early a.m., then strong N.W. Men gave cattle hay and as the Soil Conservation tree planter (Dan Harper), Mission, never came on account [of] rain, they went in our Mercury Car to Winner to get brake repairs at Studebaker’s Garage (Veck Viceka). They had dinner there, that is at Holms Cafe, and it was raining so they came home early then put Dan’s pick-up brakes in shape to run. Dan and Betty and Calvin got our mail last eve and Remnant packages from South Carolina Mills, Spartanburg, S.C. came for me and just what I need for to finish quilt tops. Betty & Calvin to Athels where Athel gave her a hair curl and family back this eve to give the finish to hair. I sewed on quilt top, played solitaire, got eats. It was last eve Wales to Thomas’s and yesterday a.m. Betty got her hair tamed.
1953 April 25th Saturday
Snowed last eve and Real Blizzard this a.m. but let down so men got in calves and cows last eve and had to haul some in on wagon and Dan [in] pick-up. Our pick-up was too icy to move until in p.m. A few cows bawl for calves but men can’t get them to claim any and gave cattle hay before noon, then Will stayed indoors and laid down. Dan started a play pen for Calvin north [of] their clothes line this p.m., and he looked at cows but Will went out and they fussed with cows and calves rest of late p.m. I finished quilt top and got eats and played solitaire. Will was nearly froze while so hot had to have door [open] on North Porch. Dan brought us milk so we have a lot now.
1953 April 26th Sunday
Sun shone bright and a nice overhead day but muddy roads. Will had to look to cows and 2 no calf but lost them in creek in snow storm Friday night, so Legion Meeting at Wm Colombe’s but we no go. Dan worked at Calvin’s pen. I washed dishes, cleaned kitchen & front room, wrote in diary. Will and I played Canasta in p.m.
1953 April 27th Monday
Sun shone until towards eve, then got damp and some clouds but no rain. Men gave cattle hay and Dan fixed fence between us and Kleins. Will went out to harrow alfalfa field on Strids, and Dan Harper came in his pick-up just as Dan came so he went with Harper from east gate into bull pen, they got Will at Strids, got trees and Dan took out M Tractor to west trees to put more in. Will helped Harper plant. Dan drove tractor. They quit for night, worked from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., got half patch finished with Chinese Elms. Harper went home to Mission and Will looked at cows and calves and men quit for night. I got eats, made a small quilt top, 50 X 72 for Calvin, also played some solitaire. Dan got mail and Betty brought it up then he and Calvin went in pick-up to Whiting Store and got mail late p.m. Began to cloud and looked stormy. Men ate pie and mince pie this p.m. before planting trees, also after I baked 2 this a.m. and roasted beef.
1953 April 28th Tuesday
Cloudy misty S.E. wind and men gave cattle hay and Harper came so they finished planting 2300 trees west of trees west of house, 2 rows trees along the west side and Harper took planter to Whiting Store and on to Mission. He plants for Bud Holsclaw near Eagle Creek, also a Huggins somewhere down there. Dan at store yesterday, Sadie told him that Tom Sazama died Sunday and funeral at Winner Wed. at 2 p.m. Will & I to Valentine after we ate dinner, on west road to 18 via Mission. He got a hat, nice light brownish tan dress hat, a brown tie, dress socks, throw rope, some groceries, and I a black small hat wtih light flowers and veil and a pair nylon hose. We got groceries. Return via Mission, no stop at Sazamas as looked to rain. Mr. & Mrs. Tate left note about funeral. Thomas, Athel & Jimmie to Dan’s. David, Doris & Pat here first to play Canasta in eve then they went down to Dan’s.
1953 April 29th Wednesday
Started to rain last night and kept it up all day, not too much fell at once, just steady rain and about 40 above. I got eats, played solitaire, wrote in diary and boiled beef, laid down in p.m. Will fussed with a newborn, had to warm it in cab of pick up and the heater on then left it out with mother, ate some broth and in p.m. brought the calf home and put in barn, gave it milk from our supply to use for eats twice in p.m. Dan came up twice this morning but last time Will was so mad he had to fuss alone with cow and calf that he splurted off about getting someone to help him. Dan went saying alright but later they met at garage where Dan fixed throw rope and some other repairing. It is he just doesn’t want to get out in rain or snow, just when Will needs him the most. At 2 p.m. was to be Tom Sazama’s funeral at Winner, Mason Funeral Home, but I guess too rainy, let up a little here at 3 p.m. Never saw Dan any more this day. I am making Calvin a patchwork quilt and have it nearly done.
1953 April 30th Thursday
Rain and cold, about 40 above. Men gave cattle hay and brought them into the yards south [of] house and barn and between creek and round corral, made a gate to keep them in, had to find mothers for 2 calves left out at lake bed state land. One cow claimed one at once and left one in hay S.W. house. Will and Dan worked O.K. I got eats and tied quilt for Calvin, played solitaire. Betty don’t come. Dan brought milk.
Video: Whitcher Place (house and barn), Hidden Timber, S.D., c. early 1960s (video credit: Bill Furrey)
1953 April 6th Monday
Was cloudy and damp, sun just peeped through at times. Dan came up when we [were] eating breakfast and said that he would give cattle hay this a.m., look at cows to calve and fix fence, so Will and I went to Winner in our Mercury Car and got groceries, some print & plain Percale to finish a block quilt top I am making. Left 3 dresses and my summer coat at Dry Cleaning south [of] Winner Plumbing and can get it this week-end. We got home at 4 p.m. Saw Mr. & Mrs. Wm Chauncey, Sr. They live 13 mi. s.W. Winner on Lawrence Drey Place. Lawrence Klein & wife live at their Old Place Down River and Mrs. Drey lives in Sioux Falls, S.D. She was out to Roy’s for awhile back. Henry Sells and wife in town. Will visited with Mr. and guess all their boys are away, Gerald in Germany, Howard in Army in States, Donald at School at Lincoln, Gerry Dean in first year at Mission High. Never saw Betty nor Calvin. I cut out blocks from new goods.
1953 April 7th Tuesday
Some snow and Rainy. Men gave cattle hay and looked at cattle and pulled some fence East [of] Old South line of Bull Pen and South [of] our Road out to Klein field. They used the Ford Tractor to pull out of ground these posts. These days all the new news is that relatives of Sitting Bull, 3 Granddaughters of his from Wounded Knee, S.D. in Shannon CO. and a few other Indians of Mobridge, S.D., want his bones moved to 5 mi. west [of] Mobridge and the Sculptor of Crazy Horse who works a carving out of Stone images of Noted folks will carve Sitting Bull Monument. I cannot spell his name. Never see Betty as Dan brings milk, for he and Will drink malts. I mix my own in bowl.
1953 April 8th Wednesday
Still rainy and chilly but not all the time, just in short showers, but men gave cattle hay and looked at them and not so many each 4 to 6 but have to watch them just the same. I am finishing the print & white black quilt top this day and play some solitaire and get eats and read. Will & I played some Canasta as [it is] rainy outside. Dan comes for eggs but no Betty nor Calvin. Will laid down in p.m. as he feels not so good.
1953 April 9th Thursday
Sun shone part time but getting warmer. I got eats, played solitaire, started mending that is piled up. Men gave cattle hay, looked at cows and fixed some fence North Wagner Land. Betty no come up. Will was down and said Calvin has new Toy from Coles Sunday.
1953 April 10th Friday
Some clouds but South wind enough to dry clothes. Will put out on line this a.m. and he got them in late p.m. as scattered clouds passed, sun bright so they dried nicely. I played solitaire and got eats. Men gave cattle hay and measured Place west [of] Trees west of house to plant 4 to 5 acres more, so Will went in Mercury to Mission through Hills North [of] Thomas’s, ordered from Soil Conservationist. Dan fixed at fence at Bull Pen. Will got staples, heat bulbs. Had dinner at Mission. Our supper bass fish and potatoes, a sauce of chili for spaghetti.
1953 April 11th Saturday
Some clouds and chilly north wind but no moisture here. Snow fell to 7 inches west Nebraska, So. Dak. and in N. Dak. Men gave cattle hay and Dan worked at fence between us & Dan’s south line, also up My Creek. Will looked [at] cows, had dinner and Stanley Whiting came to take alfalfa to McKee’s to fan. Mr. helped Will & Stanley fan this alfalfa and it looks nice. They had a lunch at McKee’s for Betty & Patsy are cooks. Mrs. called Tuesday to Hasting, Nebr. where her brother, wife & daughter [were] hurt in auto wreck and 5 yr. old son killed. Harley Davis, her brother, broken back and and other places. Jim Hawk was at McKees so he and Bus to South [of] Paulsons to 18 to O’Kreek to see if any news of above folks, as Judy is there. Karen Hawk is with McKee girls as dad at O’Kreek and she helps with work. They have to travel South [of] their Place to McKees and then some way around Paulsons to 18 to get out from muddy roads. men took 8 sacks alfalfa to fan and Stanley 75 lbs to sow and return when he raises seed this fall. Wales went to Mission this eve and Thomas & Athel took Doris, David & Jimmie to Stanleys for the night. Will & Stanley met LeMoyne and Family going out through hills.
1953 April 12th Sunday
Jake and Leo Whiting Birthdays
Bright, nice day. Men looked about cows and calves and in p.m. Thomas, Athel and Jimmie came to Wales, they no home so they came here. We played pitch and men won. Jimmie played to himself. Dan & Family went to matinee at Star Theater, Mission, in p.m. and came back as Thomas’s went home late p.m. They stayed home rest of eve. We read and I played solitaire as Will not too well so no play Canasta but he read awhile and early to bed. Doris and David went with Stanley’s to Mission to show this p.m. They all, Jimmie also stayed at Stanley’s last night and Athel went for them this morning after they [would be] at 8 a.m. Mass but none so Athel brought Jimmie home and they to be home this late p.m.
1953 April 13th Monday
Bright, nice so Dan came up and said he would look at cows and calves and give cattle a stack of hay so we could go to town. We left in our Mercury before 9 a.m., got groceries, some quilting material, a lunch at West Side Cafe and saw Mr. Sells, Mr. & Mrs. Wm Chauncey, Sr., they now live 13 miles S.W. of Winner on Lawrence Drey Place, which they bought recently. They have a new pick up. We went around highway to 18 and came back that way at 1 p.m. and left Gro. etc. home, to Stanley’s and Abbotts to tell them we dehorn, brand 1.D on Heifers, castrate these not done a year ago. Abbotts’ Jersey milk cow’s steer calf was to be branded also. Men worked on Corral late p.m. and finished double gates North of Wind Mill at N.E. Wales yard. Only 2 meals for me and I never sewed any but read and solitaire for we got the mail.
1953 April 14th Tuesday
Cloudy. N.E. wind and not chilly. Men gave cattle a stack of hay, got in yearlings that were with cows in a.m. [In] p.m. W.L. and Billie Abbott came in their Buick and Stanley in his pick up, so they got busy and worked the yearling steer and heifers, branded heifers 1.D and dehorned some of these. Betty and Calvin went to get mail and stopped at Thomas’s. Pearl came in their car to get Stanley to come for a calf not to be born so he went home in a hurry and back after he pulled this calf to finish dehorning a few head. Dan, Billie, W.L. and W.J. worked them. I gave Pearl a mince pie so Stanley wouldn’t miss his lunch but he got lunch here. All went home. Betty brought mail, left Calvin in the car and he plays with everything on seat and the floor. He and Betty came up to give Stanley a cactus plant and get things out [of] deep freeze for supper. We had a sandwich of roast beef for our supper and a malt before bedtime. Mrs. Abbott isn’t out here but in town as Mrs. Anderson, sister, of Naper, Nebr., passed away last Friday.
1953 April 15th Wednesday
Snowed last night but rained first and to-day is damp and cold so Dan and Will had to get in some new calves to warm them by putting in pick up cab and heater on as the bulb he got for heater broke. Was bright and began to melt snow in p.m. but a coat of ice on ground so Will started in our car and no get anywhere, came back to Thomas’s to wait for Tom Sr. to come by but Bud came in his and said that Dick took Tom in their pick up on west road. Thomas, Larry Daywitt and Bud & Tom Sr. went. No meeting last evening and they got stuck in hills. Dick had nobby tires so he brought them home. Men gave cattle hay first this a.m. I boiled beef and when Will came back at 1 p.m. he had a lunch so I got only 2 meals. I am sewing on the finishing of block quilt with cotton flannel interlining, blue lining and tied with light blue knitting cotton. Played some solitaire and read. Never saw Betty nor Calvin this day.
1953 April 16th Thursday
Not so bad and bright so snow is gone and some wind and mud is drying. Men gave cattle hay and went to Whiting Store to mail sample of alfalfa to Brookings to have purity and germination test at Agronomy Seed Testing Laboratory and got mail, the records from Wards were only music, no songs, so waiting so long for what no get. Men have to watch cows and calves so much.
1953 April 17th Friday
Very chilly north wind but sun shone some of the time. Will & Dan fed cattle hay and Dan fixed at fence west side of New Tree Plot west of our trees west of house. Betty washed clothes to-day so no see her. I cut out 2 everyday dresses of Dark Peach Print blocks with flowers and sewed at them. Got 2 meals of fish, etc. but corn for Will’s supper.
Note: In April of 1923, the Whitchers lived on a farm about a mile from Spencer, Nebraska. They had already begun to make plans to move to Todd County, South Dakota.
April 1, 1923: Easter Sunday. A bright day until towards evening cloudy. South wind cool in a.m. but afternoon quite warm. We did up work and Will started to trim those few cherry trees and cut his hand. William Whiting came out about 11:30 a.m. and he and Will went for a ride in the afternoon via Ableidingers, Chas. Clouse and via Dist. 14 school house and on home. I just read and did a little work after.
April 2, 1923: Cloudy & cold N. wind all day and a few drops rain in a.m. The men hauled old hay on fields, got ready to butcher. Mr. Ableidinger came and butchered in a hurry, then Will went along to town via Ableidingers. Mr. Anderson and family, Joe L. stopped for eggs. I fixed curtains.
April 3, 1923: A bright warm day. Will cut hog so I could handle then went with Mr. Ableidinger to feed yard and got a cow, had dinner down there. Chas. cleaned old hay stack butts and in p.m. the men put three loads hay in barn. Mr. Geo. Knoll came looking for cows and hogs. I put up curtains in south room and started to render lard. William Whiting came out and stayed all night as he is getting ready for Todd Co.
April 4, 1923: Was cloudy in night and early morning but bright day and cold, so I started to cook meat but didn’t have to worry, also baked bread. The men hauled all hay from wild stack in, and went to Spencer with hogs in evening and brought Charles’s Hampshire back. William Whiting left for Todd Co. this a.m.
April 5, 1923: A beautiful forenoon but in p.m. wind & small clouds at time and wind quite strong and dusty, a little sprinkle once in p.m. Charles helped Mrs. wash clothes in a.m., and p.m. plowed on B.’s in hog lot. Will got water and disc at Wards in morning and disced rest of day on Dave’s near orchard. I washed clothes and finished canning meat and mince meat, and we all so tired in evening. Part of Langans returned from Colombe, S. D. today as they went to Mrs. John Langan funeral yesterday. She died at Norfolk Monday morning of pneumonia.
April 6, 1923: A cloudy day and cold N. E. wind all day. Will disced in forenoon but so cold, had to go to Sherlocks to warm and in p.m. took disc to Spencer to get sharpened. Chas. plowed at hog lot on B.’s all day. I ironed in a.m., and in p.m. mended Will’s overalls and in evening felt bad and so tired.
April 7, 1923: A little sleet during night and snow early morning but not much. Cloudy & cold until middle p.m., then bright but still cold. The men cut poles & wood and I was so sick, stayed in bed all the afternoon. Mr. & Mrs. Anderson and family stopped to pay for eggs.
April 8, 1923: A bright day, a little cool in morning but warmer as day passed on, a beautiful evening. Walter Ableidinger came for Mr.’s knife, and Will went with him on with Mr. to Petersons, had some time to get on Lazzes as he threw himself. After dinner Will took nap, then rode Lazzes to Knolls and he got Will off, skinned his face, hurt finger and shoulder & hip. Billy Knoll came for Lazzes and he got away again, but Will rode peaceably in evening. I did only necessary work as I still feel bum.
April 9, 1923: Another quite nice day but a little cloudy in evening. Will went to Spencer to see Doctor about finger, and his little finger on right hand is broken. He took eggs, got 21 cents per doz. I started my jacket suit. Charlie worked across creek and in p.m. Will helped him put in hog fence.
April 10, 1923: A bright day but cold N. E. wind. Will went with Charles to hog fence and worked a while, then went to L. E. Lentz Sale at Fr. Randall with Messrs. Bradstreet and Scanlan. Charles worked at fence and had dinner at noon, and in p.m. unloaded hay, hauled alfalfa and cleaned barn & disced a little near orchard and took Knolls’ spreader & rack home. Will came back about 6:30 p.m. and felt sick on account of jolt Sunday. I sewed on suit all day and got so much finished, as I didn’t get dinner.
April 11, 1923: A bright day and S. E. wind a little in morning, but warm toward evening. Will went to Spencer, got Barley and sowed it across road on B.’s in p.m., and Charles disced cornstalks south of house all day, but towards evening started to disc barley. I still sewed on suit this day.
April 12, 1923: A bright day and quite warm, in fact hot in p.m. and strong S. wind. Will disced barley and Charles harrowed hog pasture and put in rye, and in p.m. disced and Will sowed wheat & oats, oats which he got at Ableidingers at noon, finished at 7:30 p.m., sowing. I baked bread, churned butter and took jars to basement and in p.m. started a waist.
April 13, 1923: A cold N. W. wind, bright until towards mid day, clouded and rained now and then in p.m. Charles disced oats and Will stayed in until Dr. Hines, L. I. came to see if Biddy was stifled, but only a little. Will took 3 Legs out and worked on disc, and in p.m. Will disced and Charles started roof on corn. Will drove 3 Legs alone in evening on disc and Charles did up chores, after supper he went to Spencer. I put hooks & eyes & buttons on suit. Floyd Sherlock got the seeder in morning.
April 14, 1923: Bright early morning but such a dust storm during midday, could hardly face it and quite cold, but evening better. Will disced oats until hurt broken fingers then came in to bed, and Chas. made place to feed pigs, finished oats discing at noon. In p.m., Will to Spencer. Chas. cut posts. I finished jacket and made petticoat and hemmed skirt. Anderson of Holt stopped for eggs.
April 15, 1923: Was cold in morning and cool all day but bright N. W. breeze. I walked to church at 8:30 a.m. and returned, washed dishes, got a bite and Will chored, in p.m. we went to Wm. Dreher funeral. He died at Dallas, S. Dak. very suddenly. We stopped at H. Bradstreet’s, and I & Langans at folks.
April 16, 1923: A bright but cold day and very little breeze, what was from North. Will harrowed then went to feed yard to see about buying heifers, but nothing doing. Chas. then harrowed and in p.m. dug post holes, and Will harrowed. I didn’t do much as felt all in from walk up town yesterday. Rudolph Johnson came for Ableidingers’ walking plow.
April 17, 1923: A bright day and forenoon quite pleasant but a little cool and p.m. wind blew from the south quite hard at times and dusty. Will finished dragging oats near Sherlocks and after chores Chas. got water for me to wash clothes, and they finished at 10:30 a.m., then fixed things around here, and in p.m. Will sowed oats on B.’s and Chas. disced them in. Will went up town to take abstracts to Mr. C. S. Sutton, also Buggy wheels to Joe Machu. I washed clothes and they dried in a hurry on account of dry wind, and baked cake in evening, and Will helped me get ready to set a few hens. Floyd Sherlock brought seeder back and got his buggy in a.m. Mr. Barden brought registered letter.
April 18, 1923: A bright day and a.m. south breeze not warm, but p.m. quite warm. Will finished putting in oats on B.’s and Chas. fixed hot pasture on B.’s and at noon on way home to dinner, Chas. had runaway with Biddy & Duke, but jumped so O.K. The men hauled poles, in p.m. Mr. Knoll came for cattle. I sewed a little, made Bread & Butter.
April 19, 1923: A bright day until towards p.m. clouded, a strong south wind and quite dusty, just before a few drops of rain in evening, wind blew so hard from S. W. Will got plow ready and started to plow on B.’s but it wouldn’t work, so he came to southeast of house. I started to clean kitchen, got alastaine on. Geo. Knoll got disc. Chas. worked at home.
April 20, 1923: Cloudy and a little rain at times all day and cold. Will did up chores and got alfalfa for cows and some fox tail to cover the corn, also some posts from across and took Cows over the river, as was cold towards evening and damp, different than last couple of nights, for was so warm had to put sheets on and used oil stove yesterday. I didn’t do much as was all in from yesterday.
April 21, 1923: Sun shone bright today in p.m. but forenoon rainy at times, N. W. wind this day. Will did up chores, got cows over the river and some alfalfa, then wagon ready. He helped Ableidinger haul hogs in p.m. to Bristow, and came back at 5 p.m. and went to Spencer. I cleaned a little wood work in kitchen and put part curtains back.
April 22, 1923: Sun shone at rising and a couple of times early morning but cloudy all day and cold and sprinkle in p.m. Will did up work, also got his breakfast as I went to 8:30 a.m. Mass, walked up and back, went to Communion. We both were tired so rested in p.m. Will fed hogs in evening across river. Have incubator hatch today.
April 23, 1923: Cloudy & misty all day. Chas. dug closet hole partly and Will plowed in p.m. They got trees to set out in yard. I sewed buttons and fixed a little mending, wasn’t very pert.
April 24, 1923: Was a beautiful bright day but a little cool. Chas. got place south of house ready for Will to plow, which he did all day and Chas. set out trees. I fixed things a little and cleaned stove. Mr. & Mrs. B. Ellsworth came for eggs for setting.
April 25, 1923: Cloudy all day and forenoon misty at times, and p.m. a regular rain until evening, first of season and I caught enough water to wash clothes. Chas. put in his potatoes, that is worked at them between showers. He went with our oats to get ground and brought Flour home before planting. Will plowed forenoon and p.m. didn’t go out in rain until evening to chore. I baked bread and fussed with setting hens and made a cake in evening. Will after supper sat down to read. I looked over his shoulder. He turned quick and knocked my chin with his shoulder. I nearly went the trip as couldn’t breathe, talk or swallow. A man came here in rain, looking for C. Ward.
April 26, 1923: A bright day but a little cool on account of dampness but breeze dried clothes I washed with first rain water of season, it frosts every night. The men went to Spencer in a.m. after feeding hogs & chores and in p.m. shingled chicken coop. Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Knoll came in p.m. for H. Bradstreet’s incubator. Mrs. C. Sherlock came in evening for eggs.
April 27, 1923: A nice day. Chas. finished his potatoes and got Knolls’ spreader, feed at Mill and cleaned barn and Will plowed all day. I didn’t do much as was tired from washing.
April 28, 1923: A nice day. Chas. dug post holes forenoon and p.m. plowed where Will couldn’t with gang plow. Will plowed a.m. and we went to Spencer p.m. Andersons stopped for eggs.
April 29, 1923: Was a beautiful day. We went to Wards for water and posts, and had dinner, rested, did part chores, drove up to McDuffees, stayed until 9 p.m.
April 30, 1923: A bright day but S. E. wind started to blow hard about 10:30 a.m. and a regular dust storm in p.m., that is dust would come in streaks and towards evening began to cloud. Will plowed and just before noon broke double trees, so after went to Spencer to get one, then plowed rest of p.m. Chas. shut hogs out of barn over river and worked fence around Knolls’ land between here and track. Will got smoke-meat in for me from hole and I wrapped it up and not much else, as I am bum. Mr. C. Johnson was buried at Spencer this p.m.
March 18, 1923: A bright day but cold N. W. wind and blew quite hard at times. Will went over the River for cows and Chas. Ward came back for milk and stayed until p .m. and they played rummage. I made a pumpkin pie and fixed dinner and towards evening wrote to Walcott & Walcott Sears for catalogue & J. K. Waring, Geneva, Nebr. Had headache.
March 19, 1923: Bright in forenoon, cloudy in p.m. and sprinkled, but evening clear. Will hauled bedding & alfalfa for hogs and in p.m. went to town to M. L. S. Co. Sale. I finished machine-work on shirts.
March 20, 1923: Bright at times and cloudy in evening but warm all day. Will & Chas. Ward took hog to Ableidingers and weighed it as Ward wants to butcher it today, they also took barrel over and got some water for us. Will went to Ableidingers to help castrate calves and stayed for supper. I tried to work but finished bread and not much else as had cold in head until it ached. Chas. Ward came for food chopped in evening. Floyd Sherlock came for Ramclouskek bull this noon. Guy Coen brought horse here.
March 21, 1923: Cloudy all day and snowing forenoon but p.m. stopped, damp and appearance of rain. Will did up chores after he found cows at Schummers and took them over the river after Mr. J. Ableidinger & Rudolph Johnson vaccinated our 6 young cattle, and he got in horses and in p.m. went up town and got some coal and took cream and got a new 3 gal. cream can. I wrote letters in forenoon and p.m. washed the clothes as my head & cold is getting better. Will is so-so.
March 22, 1923: Cloudy in morning and quite cold, but rest of day bright and warmer, so a nice evening. Will went over and got cows at Brads and Charles came back with him to phone for alfalfa and then Will went over for water & bedding for pigs in barn, and in p.m. laid down awhile as he had a headache & cold. Towards evening he took alfalfa to hogs so I went alone to Wards as hung out clothes & mopped in the a.m., and cut out dress in p.m.
March 23, 1923: Quite windy forenoon and dusty, clouds passed over but nice towards evening, a cold N. W. wind all day. Will finished chores and started to fix coop, that is nests and put lathe on hog-shed cracks and took a little rest as he had a headache. I sewed on dress, light green one and finished all but three snaps. Will went over to put hogs back in evening.
March 24, 1923: Ford Day at Spencer and a bright day, except in morning a little cloudy and a little cool. Will took corn to hogs in forenoon and in p.m. went up town to get things and see who got the Ford. Chas. Benedict got the car. I cut and sewed a gingham dress for self. Will had a headache all day, also a cold. I am so so.
March 25, 1923: Snowed quite a bit early forenoon but stopped at noon and clear toward evening and was cold. Will did up chores and rested. We ate at 3 p.m. and lunched in evening. I picked out some goods for coat & dress and it made me tired. Will still has a headache and sore throat.
March, 26, 1923: A bright, warm day. Will did chores and started to pick seed-corn, then went to Spencer to get incubator soldered and flour at Mill before dinner. Charles came at noon so he & Will finished seed corn for present and started to haul corn from ground to pile, after supper they rode up town on Peavine & Lazzes. I made 2 sun bonnets and looked over old clothes. Will has a sore throat and Chas. no appetite so grape juice tonic for us all.
March 27, 1923: A nice day all day and quite cool at times. Chas. finished putting corn on pile. Will did the chores, then they took corn to hogs and Will went on up to Knolls for spreader while Chas. got water for here. In p.m. they cleaned barn and went to Spencer to get incubator and take in Bailey fire sale of goods. I made 2 waists, baked bread, churned butter. Will still has a sore throat.
March 28, 1923: Bright day but south wind cold in a.m. and quite strong at noon and warmer in p.m. Men finished cleaning Hog house and Barn manure then plowed lot. Mr. S— appraiser, came in evening. I started to clear south room.
March 29, 1923: A bright day, warm in forenoon but cold N. wind in p.m. Chas. helped Mrs. wash clothes. Will fixed incubator, finished plowing lot and got water & hauled alfalfa. I finished Alabastine south room. Rm. & Mrs. B. Ellsworth came for eggs to set hens in forenoon and Pat Langan stopped awhile waiting for Mr. Ableidinger.
March 30, 1923: A bright day and very cold N. wind in forenoon and p.m. a little warmer. The Men cut posts in forenoon and p.m. took oats to Mill to be ground and went on up town. I mopped floor in south room and varnished it.
March 31, 1923: A bright day and very cold South wind and quite strong at midday. Chas. came over and went to Knolls for hay rack and got some alfalfa and then some wood where the men cut posts. Will helped me with separating and then covered arm chair and in p.m. they drove 3 hogs to Spencer and the mill and to Alex Wards, got ground feed at the Mill. I finished putting things in place in south room and mopped the kitchen and ironed the clothes.
Cloudy in forenoon and cold & damp, at noon started to snow and was still snowing at bed-time and very windy from the North. William cut up a cottonwood tree on Bradstreet and Will finished the chores and took wagon over to haul wood home. In p.m. we all went up town in the snow. William and Lee started for Louise and Fred’s car balked on hills near Depot so they walked in and got dray to haul car in and Thomas Garage to go for Louise and we came home.
1933 March 3rd Friday
Partly cloudy, S.E. breeze – The men chored and Lemoyne came so Narve, Wm and Lemoyne went to Moore Creek and got some horses and cut some out and took rest back. Will got a load of hay in hills. Narve cut hair for Will and he shaved and got ready for town to-morrow. I rendered lard and got meals. Carl and Hays Gehlsen and Ralph Armbruster came to see about work on road and Otto Rothley and Delia Lattimore were married Wednesday so neighbors are to charivari them to-nite.
1943 March 3rd Wednesday
Bright but cold. Will and I went to Wm Abbotts last eve for we got letter from Wood Bros. that Insurance on cow (dead) was sent to Harry Hansen, Winner, but Mr. & Mrs. and Cora Ann were at Winner and Delores and Billie were getting in their cattle for night to a place northeast [of] house and they gave us a check that Harry Hansen gave them to-day, it was to Abbott and he. Mrs. and Cora Ann came this forenoon to sign it and after dinner he went to Whiting Store and then they went home. John and George Jansen came with 100 bu. cobs from Herman Schneiderweits and Will and Mr. Jansen went to Winner to buy 200 bu. Milo and see Dr. Linker about our losing calves. Wm. Van Epps helped George load iron.
1953 March 3rd Tuesday
Snow quit but Men fed cattle and Dan got a wind brake fixed on Ford Tractor. Will is fixing sickles and came in House for awhile. I sewed a little on underwear and found some old dresses I will fix a little for summer everyday wear. Got meals and played solitaire. I sew on a dress that was cut out last fall for kind of nice wear so must finish before hot weather. Betty came up to get meat and bring milk.
A very windy dusty day but bright until eve cloudy and warm. The men took care [of] hogs all day. I fried sausage and had a headache so not much else.
1933 March 2nd Thursday
Bright, nice a.m. but clouded in p.m. and a S.E. breeze. I got meals and cut meat and cooked lard. Will got 2 loads hay in hills and Ben helped him in p.m. and they got cane in eve. Wm and Narve drove a broncho. Rena & Lemoyne got roosters and Gobblers.Mrs. Len Haukaas and Themla got Harness.
1943 March 2nd Tuesday
Bright but cold. The men chored and picked iron. Elsie and Billy came, she cleaned front room and dishes, I got meals, laid down. She got Margie at school and brought our mail. Robert Meyers, Sa’l Agent, Winner, came in p.m. Mr. & Mrs. E. Gran, Illaine and Elizabeth came to sign Farm Program for 1943, went to Dreys from here.
1953 March 2nd Monday
Snowed this day some so Men fed cattle and worked some at Shop. Dan is putting a Cover [on] front Ford Tractor and Will Staid in house in p.m. and Laid down and Read some. I have my everyday dresses finished but am planning to clean some black one to wear on chilly days if I go places. Have some underwear to fix, Slips & Nightgowns or Rather to make new also have the meals and solitaire to play, all writing so takes time.
A cold night and all day and at times cloudy, looked like storm. Will finished chores and went to Mill to get ground feed and got mail and went to bed without dinner and staid there until 4 o’clock. I ironed all day and went with Will over river in eve to get hogs in and it was so cold I chilled through & through and fell down and such a jar. Will is still sick at bedtime. Louise will try to get a ride in so Will never went. Papa is the same and still in bed as he is weaker.
Jan. 19, 1923
1933 Jan. 19th Thursday
Bright, nice day. Wm did the chores for Will has a cold on the lungs and staid indoors all day. I got meals and visited with men in p.m. First one to come was George Hawley, Dakota Farmer subscription Agent, and we got it for 6 years and a large map as premium. John Welch from Tripp Co. came to fix Duke’s teeth, had dinner, then Jay Tate came to see about Community Sale and Roy was here in a.m. and he and Wm drove calves to field and he went to Ross’s in p.m. and Ben came back with him. Ben wants someone to help him butcher to-morrow. Narvin Boyd came in eve with a team and wagon and staid all night, he will husk corn for Sundquist. Thomas & Stanley came in eve and Wm & Narve went up to care for a cow.
[Lisa’s Note: The Dakota Farmer was founded in 1881, the year of Hattie’s birth, and continues to be published today. Paula M. Nelson writes, “During the terrible days of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s, when advertising was nil and the staff minimal, the Dakota Farmer had its largest number of subscribers, over ninety-six thousand” (Paula M. Nelson, “‘Everything I Want Is Here!’: The Dakota Farmer‘s Rural Ideal, 1884-1934″, in The American West: The Reader, edited by Walter Nugent and Martin Ridge, Indiana University Press, 1999, p. 179-80).
Jan. 19, 1933
1943 Jan. 19th Tuesday
Was cold last night, got to 26 below but sun shone and this afternoon temperature rose, was 28 above. Elsie and I got meals. I laid down in p.m. and cut out 4 everyday dresses, 2 for winter, 2 for summer. Elsie washed dishes, swept floors and washed clothes for Billy, hung them out to dry, those hung out yesterday switch[ed] out for a strong south wind and not so cold. Henry and Wm V.E. chored, gave cattle cake but first W.D. have the car to thaw out. Claude Van Epps came so W.D. and he went to Herman Schneiderweits to see about a cream separator and Schneiderweit will let Claude use his until Mrs. Schneiderweit comes from Cheyenne, Wyg. where she has Dan Wagner children and her youngest daughter. Will fed chickens and put a glass in window to put in south east corner of Wagner house, it will lead out to porch. Henry fixed chairs and late afternoon he and Wm Van Epps took 1X4’s that were in front-room to thaw out to the Wagner House to fix window and door frames. Will chored in eve, got in coal, fed chickens and took care of the stock at the barn so when Hank and W.D. got back from Wagner house, they were ready for supper.
Jan. 19, 1943
1953 Jan. 19th Monday
Some snow until late p.m. then Sun Shone a little. Calvin is able to be Up from his Bronchial Touch of Pneumonia later part [of] last week at Sandhills General Hospital, Valentine. Will says he plays with his Toys and steps around fairly well for he couldn’t walk Saturday when they brought him home. Men gave cattle feed and went to Whiting Store to mail letters and get mail. Dan works at a Rack he is making for his Pick Up box. Will had to rest a while and lay down so I am making a Quilt Top and I cut blocks while he rested awhile late p.m. I played a little solitaire and got eats.
Cloudy, snowing and wind from N.W. and cold. Will and Roy chored and went to the store and horseback and in eve took bunks and oats to fat cattle as Roy brought in Noah’s wagon on Wednesday. The girls sewed and Dave visited with them, they started to make black dresses. Harriet and Mary popped corn. I made carrot pie, baked beans and had a late dinner.
1920: This a bright day, only chilly and clouded in evening. I mopped basement, went to Brad’s after milk, also got water. Will stapled fence and got seeder ready, also loaded oats and oiled disc before noon. Afternoon I helped him sow oats and then he disced hog-lot also started out field. I gathered cobs and fixed a place to set 4 hens, which we did in evening. Billie Knoll came for 5 doz. eggs. We are all in first day out, Oh my!
1921: Was an awful day all day, cold and very windy, dusty and cloudy. Will disced south of road to cover oats, and it was so cold that he went in and had to start fires and get dinner and supper, so he is all in. After morning work and getting milk and water at B.’s, I walked to town via Will and Auto road, but never got a ride.
Papa was operated on from 10:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m., so his foot and leg were taken off about 4 or 5 inches below the knee. They didn’t give Papa much ether, but doped him otherwise, so he realized what was taking place most of the time, and had an afternoon in not so much pain. He talked and smoked his pipe and dozed off at times. Mr. B. Ellsworth, Nell, Billie, Boyd and I took Papa’s limb to the cemetery and burried it beside the other one. I then stayed with Papa from 4 until 6 p.m., had supper at Folks, came home afoot, got here at 7:30 p.m., was all in and Will all in, was awful.
~ Hidden Timber, South Dakota
1934: Elmer got in late from the dance, but chored with Will’s help. Will can’t get mail yet on account of cut finger. They went to Tracy Snyder’s to see if Will is to pasture his cattle, then to Harry and Louise’s, and Dorothy Mae was scalded by pulling kettle on her feet, so Harry came over in p.m. and got necessaries for her burns, such as Sweet Oil, Unguentine, Gauze and Absorbent Cotton, as there was none at O’Kreek today, and Dorothy is in serious condition, so must be kept at home for cure of burns.
1940: I sewed, shortened sleeves on Will’s New Gray Shirt, sewed buttons on his suit and put black-flowers on my new hat.
1945: I listened to radio about Pres. Roosevelt’s burial at Hyde Park, New York, the Roosevelt Estate. He was buried in the flower garden there with Hudson River rippling to the East of burial place, this is north of New York City. The Funeral train arrived here sometime after 9 o’clock and burial at once, then there was a Memorial Service at St. James Episcopal Church. Funeral Train was 17 coaches for All the Officials, about 70 went to Burial, then Friend and relatives. Ever since Pres. Roosevelt died Thursday, 3:35 p.m., the Radio stopped all commercial programs and every part of the world had memorial services for him.
1949: I never played solitaire as a penance in Memory of this Day, but read in evening. Clarence came near noon, for he had to take his father, Ed Whiting, and my brother, to Rosebud Hospital, for he suffered all last night with Pain in his right side. When at the hospital, the Dr. said he may have appendicitis, so doped him to rest for awhile to see.
